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  3. Brief history and present status of the Faculty of Medicine No. 2

Brief history and present status of the Faculty of Medicine No. 2

The education of foreign students, over the years, was organized by the University's pro-rerectors, university professors Vladimir Hotineanu, Petru Galețchi and Valeriu Chicu. Between 1991-1999, university professors Victor Vovc, Ion Moldovanu and Dr. M. Lupu were responsible for the training of students from abroad. Subsequently, for a period of over 10 years, the Abroad Students Department was led by University Professor Veceaslav Gonciar and his deputies M. Lupu, Anatol Vishnevschi and Lilian Globa.

The implementation of English language instruction for foreign students was adopted by the University Scientific Council in 2002. With the organizational and financial support of the university, the language training of the teaching staff was ensured, teaching materials and equipment necessary for the gradual implementation of the students' instruction in English were purchased. Since the academic year 2010-2011 the number of international students admitted to study in English has increased almost 2 times at the Faculty of Dentistry and 5 times at the Faculty of Medicine No. 2.

In 2010, by the decision of the University Senate, the Faculty of Medicine No. 2 was established as a subdivision responsible for the management of the process of training foreign students in English and for the effective implementation of all legislative and normative acts regulating the admission to studies, record keeping and compliance with the rules of residence of foreign citizens on the territory of the Republic of Moldova.

The first dean was Professor Mihail Gavriliuc, who was essential to the institutional consolidation of the Faculty. From 2013 to the present, the Faculty has been headed by myself, the dean-designate Mircea Bețiu, university lecturer, assisted by a team of vice-deans: university lecturers Stela Cojocaru, Sofia Lehtman, Oxana Sârbu, and the doctor of medical sciences Angela Babuci.

At present, about 2000 international students from about 40 countries - Israel, India, Turkey, Russian Federation, Germany, USA, Romania, Bulgaria, Jordan and others - are studying in English at the University, of which about 1500 are trained in the English-language program at the Faculty of Medicine No.2.

The primary objectives of the faculty are to train medical professionals according to European standards and to strengthen the internationalization of the teaching process. The training of foreign students at the Faculty of Medicine No. 2 is accompanied by a broader framework of activities:

-Participation of University representatives in international educational fairs to present the educational offer of SUMPh "Nicolae Testemitanu" in the Republic of Moldova;

-International cooperation with organizations, economic agents, subdivisions of the Ministries of Health and Education in different countries in order to recruit candidates for studies;

-Collaboration with the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Moldova and other countries in order to promote SUMPh "Nicolae Testemitanu";

-Developing the English learning environment and communication skills of teachers and other academic staff;

-Organization of entrance examinations and promotion of SUMPh "Nicolae Testemițanu" in the countries of origin of the candidates (Israel, India, USA);

-Since 2012, the University has been implementing the process of certifying the language skills of its teaching staff in accordance with the levels of knowledge required by the European standard. At the moment, more than 50% of the teaching staff of the University is certified in teaching in English.

The current strategic plan for the development of the University in the period 2021-2030, regarding the integration of the University in the international medical academic field, assigns to the Faculty of Medicine no. 2 a major importance, determined by the need to promote the experience of activity within international structures.

SUMPh "Nicolae Testemitanu" has been institutionally accredited at the international level according to the standards of the World Federation for Medical Education. The accreditation process was conducted by the Independent Accreditation and Rating Agency of Kazakhstan in 2019. The Medicine Studies Program, including with English language teaching, was accredited according to the World Federation of Medical Education standards by the same accrediting entity in 2022. Thus, the graduation diploma of SUMPh "Nicolae Testemițanu", which also benefits foreign students, reconfirms its academic value in an international perspective.

In accordance with Order no.58-A of 22.02.2024 (in the wording of Order no.337-A of 04.11.2024) Organizational Structure of the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Nicolae Testemitanu" of the Republic of Moldova, the following subdivisions are included in the structure of the Faculty of Medicine no. 2: Dean's Office; Department of Pediatrics; Department of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics; Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Medical Parasitology; Department of General Surgery-Semiology no. 3; Department of Dermatovenerology; Department of Philosophy and Bioethics; Department of Human Physiology and Biophysics; Department of Romanian Language and Medical Terminology; Department of Modern Languages; Department of Neurology no. 1; Chair of Ophthalmology; Chair of Otolaryngology; Chair of Medical Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Manual Therapy; "Gheorghe Ciobanu" Chair of Medical Emergencies; Center of Pre-University Studies and Linguistic Education.

The teaching staff of the Faculty of Medicine no.2 includes 316 full professors, including 1 full academician of the ASRM, 12 university professors, 7 consulting professors, 74 lecturers, 93 assistant professors, 6 university lecturers. The Department of Pediatrics, headed by University Professor Ninel Revenco, has become a benchmark in the educational process, implementing new forms of training of students with their participation in curative work. The staff of the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Medical Parasitology, together with the Department of Medical Emergencies and other subdivisions of the Faculty, were fully trained in the front line of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are proud of the 5377 foreign graduates in the period 1994-2024.  As a result, thousands of graduates native from about 40 countries are practicing medicine in countries of the European Union, Israel, USA, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, etc.

In accordance with the legislation in force in the University there is a system of training provided at various levels within the 5 faculties, the School of Public Health Management (SPHSM) and the Doctoral School of Medical Sciences (DSDSMS). Thus, the Faculty of Medicine No. 2 (English-taught, international students) provides:

-pre-university training for international students;

university training at level 7 ISCED/CNC/EQF/2QF-EHEA, integrated higher education (cycles I+II, bachelor and master) with the study program - 0912.1 Medicine.

In this context, 73 teaching subdivisions of the SUMPh "Nicolae Testemitanu" provide training to about 2000 internationals from over 35 countries of the world, including about 1500 in the Medicine Studies Program with English language training, with a higher percentage of beneficiaries from India, Israel, Tunisia, Romania, USA, etc.; The English/French language training process of the beneficiaries is provided by about 400 teachers and scientific and didactic staff, who are certified with C1, C2 and B2 level of foreign language proficiency.

An important role in the training of specialists is played by the University Center for Simulation in Medical Training (in Romanian CUSIM), where beneficiaries develop patient communication and practical skills with the help of mannequins and high-fidelity simulators, in order to build and affirm a European area of knowledge and quality assurance of modern medical education and practice.

The record of the beneficiaries and the results of success within the University at all levels is realized in SIMU, which allows to assess the quality of teaching, to evaluate knowledge and to obtain various reports, in an operational and transparent way.

The student campus comprises 15 dormitories (with a total capacity of over 3000 places, of which 1350 for local students, 1250 for international students and 400 for residents), the University Sports Complex with 3 sports blocks and an outdoor field. SUMPh "Nicolae Testemitanu" has 8 teaching and auditorium blocks, the University Sociocultural Complex, the University Food Complex with 2 canteens.